Dados do Trabalho

Título

SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUALITIES AND THEIR EFFECTS ON SLEEP PATTERNS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Introdução

Sleep is a fundamental physiological process in which various physiological systems repair themselves, regulate neurotransmitter homeostasis, modulate feelings of fatigue and eliminate metabolites accumulated during wakefulness, and is essential for regulating physical and mental health. However, today's society imposes increasing pressure for results, leading to exhausting work routines and inadequate sleep habits, especially in low-income individuals. Unfavorable socioeconomic conditions often impose barriers to the adoption of good sleep habits, such as inadequate environments for rest and the need for multiple jobs, intensifying the negative impacts on physical and psychological well-being.

Objetivo

To evaluate the relationship between family income and irregular sleep duration in adults.

Métodos

Cross-sectional study carried out between March 2017 and 2020, using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Hours of sleep were assessed based on the question: “How many hours do you usually sleep at night?”. Sleep duration was categorized as regular (7-9 hours per night) or irregular (<7 hours and >9 hours per night). Family income was measured by the poverty-income ratio (PIR) and categorized into three levels: low income (PIR <1), middle income (PIR 1-4) and high income (PIR >4). To check the relationship between these variables, a binary logistic regression analysis was carried out, adjusted for age, education and gender. The ethics review board (ERB) approval protocol number is 2018-01.

Resultados

: Among the 4,401 individuals evaluated, the majority had completed or were currently studying at university (62.3%), 47.5% had a medium poverty income index, 51.4% were female, and the average age was 47.2 years (95% CI: 45.9 - 48.6). In addition, 43.5% of the participants had irregular sleep duration. In the multivariate analysis, middle-income individuals were 71% more likely to have irregular sleep (OR 1.71; 95% CI: 1.43 - 2.05), while those with low income were 2.33 times more likely (OR 2.33; 95% CI: 1.80 - 3.02) to have irregular sleep duration, compared to high-income participants.

Conclusões

Individuals with low income are more likely to have inadequate hours of sleep. This sleep irregularity can contribute to the cycle of harmful behaviors and the development of different chronic non-communicable diseases, widening health inequalities.

Palavras -chave

Sleep; Family Income; Stress Psychological; NHANES.